I got into my 99 Max SE today and i wouldn't start i had a feeling it was this stupid security system so i had the car towed to the nissan dealer and they knew right away that was the problem.they said it was something with the ECU and they would have to order the part to fix it anyway they got the car running but they said they don't no for how long i just hope it lasts till i bring it back.They said this is a common problem with the Max especially the 99 is this true?And when they fix it will it happen again without warning.i am really starting to question my choice of this car i barley had it 3 months and so far it's needed a clutch and i still get some clutch chatter when taking off in 1st gear, front wheel bearings,and now this.thanx for any help.

 

sounds strange, they could not tell you what the problem is? And its solution, sounds shady, take to another mechanic or dealer.

 

I changed the battery in my '99. I was then told that this erased the memory from the immobilizer system so I had to have the car towed to the dealership. They charged me 82.00 just to reprogram the key. Then when siting there I decided I should try both keys. The second key would not start the vehicle. They then procceded to tell me that I need a new transponder in my second set of keys. another 52.00 plus 82.00 to program it. At that point thought that I would check to see if there were any TSB's concerning this issue. Seems the owners manual should warn you about changing a battery if it is then going to lock you out of the car.

 

I smell a rat. Find another dealer. The codes for the immobilizer are stored in the EPROM within the ECU. EPROM's don't erase themselves. Even when power is disconnected.

As far as your clutch replacement, who ever owned the car before you I suspect didn't drive a manual correctly. Thats why it wore out so fast. There's cars on this forum with over 100K on the original clutch.

Second point regarding the chatter you still have, go back to the shop that changed the clutch and let them fix it correctly this time. Your flywheel probably needed to be resurfaced and wasn't when the new clutch was put in. Either or, it sounds like the clutch job wasnt' done correctly. It should be smooth.

BTW - My 99 has 60K on it and has never had any problems, I haven't even tuned it up yet and it runs great, gets 25MPG!!!!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by njmaxseltd
[B]
I smell a rat. Find another dealer. The codes for the immobilizer are stored in the EPROM within the ECU. EPROM's don't erase themselves. Even when power is disconnected.

I am just a girl, but in laymans terms what is a EPROM and the ECU. What could have caused my immobilizer system to lock me out?

 

EPROM = Erasable, Programmable, Read Only Memory.

I have no clue why you were locked out. If the battery replacement was the reason, then every car with an immobilizer system is going to be towed back to the dealer upon it's battery dying.

I'm pretty sure thats not happening.

 

The mechanic said that I should have hooked up a devise that is inserted into the lighter plug to keep a minumal charge going to the memory circut to avoid the need to have my keys reprogramed. My reply was that it should be posted in the owners manual. Anyway my car is running now with only one key. What is the price for a new key? If there is such a problem as a bad transponder in the spare key that I have. Also, in a TSB there is some indication that this is a problem on some 99's Has anyone had any problems not being to re-set the key using secific seriers of events and if so, What causes it? I travel alot and am not to secure in the fact that this could happen. Thanks for your help.

 

I had to replace the battery on my 99 and had no battery connected for at 60-90 minutes before installing a new one. I have the same type of key and didn't have any problems.

 

That sounds like total BS. I had my battery disconnected a couple of time when I installed my Intake and then again when I replaced the battery with an Optima and never had starting problems.

 

BTW, was the car starting?
When I first got the car, I tested the immobilizer with a duplicate key from home depot. It would start the car, but then the car would stall immediately because it couldn't find the code.
So if the car wouldn't even start, it might have been something else.

 

About 2 years ago, my 99 max wouldnt start b/c somehow the key got deprogrammed. So I had it towed to dealer (during which my car got sideswiped while on the tow truck hitch, but thats besides the point) and they fixed the key under the warranty. They didnt know how or why it got deprogrammed. As for the battery, I have had my battery disconnected for hours at a time, and I never had a problem starting my car after the battery had been reconnected.

 

same here. 99... battery disconnected for several hours... no problems.

 

Yea! sounded a little bogus even for a girl to believe. But, I am a little concerned that this has happened in the first place. If the dealer can not tell me why, after four years of driving the vehicle with no problems, that this happened, it makes me a little uneasy thinking I could be stranded somewhere. The car only has 40,000 miles on it. Thanks for the help!!!

 

I have to agree. My 99 SE has 131,000 miles on it. It has never given me an ounce of trouble (except for the side airbags which were repaired under warrenty). Had it tuned up at 100,000 miles and it runs like new.
I've changed my battery before and never lost the programming in the keys.